Sam's phone call had been unexpected and his invitation to dinner was almost more startling. CJ talked to Sam at least once a week over the phone, and Toby talked to him periodically too. But, things had been tense when Sam left the White House and even though Josh had promised himself that he'd keep in touch, he only spoke to Sam every now and then, and usually by email. Josh even suspected that Sam talked to Donna more than he talked to Josh, but then again, Donna talked Josh's mother more than he did too.
Their conversation had been brief. Sam just mentioned that he was in DC. Josh and Sam quickly caught up on political scoops and ideas being batted around the west wing, but steered clear of happenings in their own lives. Just as swiftly as the conversation began, Sam was ending it by asking Josh if he would come to dinner that night.
Josh soon found that he wasn't the only person invited to dinner that night. CJ, Toby and Donna had all received phone calls, inviting them to dinner that evening. He and Donna shared a cab to the restaurant, speculating along the way why Sam might have called everyone together. Josh and Donna were the last to arrive and as they walked in they were arguing over whether or not Josh could expect Donna to steal his food throughout the evening. There was a large round table reserved for the group in the back of the restaurant. Donna seated herself next to Sam and Josh sat between Donna and Toby.
A few minutes later, after the food had been ordered, Sam cleared his throat and began talking, taking everyone by surprise.
"I bet you're all wondering why I invited you to dinner tonight." Sam began.
"You mean you didn't fly all the way across the country to look at my beautiful face?" CJ asked before taking a drink from her wine glass.
"That's an added bonus." Sam said, raising his beer in her direction. "I'm going to run for governor."
"Of what?" Josh asked. Donna hit Josh on the arm and CJ launched part of her dinner roll across the table at him, hitting him square in the forehead.
"Neptune." Toby replied dryly.
"Sam! That's great!" CJ exclaimed, her voice was full of pride and pleasure.
"Wow, Sam! You'll be a fantastic governor!" Donna reassured him.
"Of California?" Josh asked, a little flabbergasted. He was still trying to grasp Sam's declaration.
"Yes, Josh. Of California." Sam confirmed. Sam looked at Toby, who had been extremely quiet. "Toby? What do you think?"
"I think you need to run this campaign the right way. Not like last time."
The table grew quiet. Everyone thought back to the past and Sam's last campaign.
"I'd need your help. All of you." Sam said, looking around the table. His eyes paused for a moment as they connected with Josh's.
"We can't just quit our jobs and come with you, Sam. If things were different, you know we would. But the president needs us." CJ sounded almost guilty telling Sam that she couldn't come be part of the campaign.
"I'm not asking all of you to quit. I just need your support. I need your support and your advice. You all are my family. And I need you by my side for this." Sam said poetically.
"That's so sweet." Donna said. She brought her hand tenderly up to her mouth and sounded almost as if she could cry.
"We could be cheerleaders and cheer you on from the sidelines. I for one would look stunning in a short skirt. Between Donna and I, we could really bring in the voters." CJ joked. Toby raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
"Who's going to run your campaign?" Josh asked, coarsely throwing his napkin in Donna's direction so she could dab her eyes. "You can't have Will, he's one of us now."
There was idle chit chat about Will and campaign managers, until Toby spoke up again from his muted side of the table.
"You know, right?" Toby mumbled. Everyone turned to look at him.
"Yeah." Sam said quietly.
"What does he know?" Josh asked. He, like CJ and Donna, was looking confusedly from Toby to Sam and back again.
"He knows whose help he needs to win." Toby explained.
The table fell silent again. Josh realized whom Toby was talking about. He was a little surprised that Toby seemed to know so much about Juliana and what had gone on in the past. Even CJ and Donna seemed to understand what Toby and Sam were discussing. Nobody wanted to bring up anything having to do with Juliana, Josh or Sam and break the fragile peace that seemed to be occurring tonight.
"I propose a toast." Josh stated, raising his glass. "To Sam Seaborn, future Governor of California. A good man and wonderful friend. Here's to your future and the bettered future of your great state."
All five raised there glasses to clink them together. With smiles all around they drank to their friendships and the future.